Former FBI Director James Comey argued that the United States will prevail through the coronavirus pandemic in spite of the Trump administration.
The 59-year-old former director discussed the White House’s response to the pandemic in a column titled, “James Comey: People crave leadership when they are afraid. They aren’t getting it,” published by the Washington Post on Saturday.
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Comey praised Queen Elizabeth II for her address to the United Kingdom, calling her tenor “calm, dignified, and above all, candid about the present, yet optimistic about the future.”
“Authenticity, honesty and relentless, reasoned optimism are the ingredients of leadership in a crisis. It means doing more of what you should already be doing as a leader — radiating calm, competence and compassion so the people being led are comforted by the leader’s presence and vision,” he wrote. “Like this horrible virus, fear and anxiety are contagious. People in crisis watch closely and over-interpret a leader’s every word, gesture and tone. They spot exaggeration or a lack of authenticity.”
He also went in-depth regarding President Franklin Roosevelt’s leadership after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.
“Even without effective national leadership, we will get through this pandemic crisis,” Comey concluded. “We will meet again and, when we do, the United States will be a better country, with a much deeper appreciation for what leadership requires.”
Comey did not mention the president by name during the entire piece.
President Trump fired Comey in May 2017, after which Comey compared the president to a “mob boss.” Comey’s conduct as FBI director has been criticized in multiple DOJ inspector general reports but, so far, has not been charged with any crimes.
